Abstract:

The non-destructive testing (NDT) by ultrasounds is increasingly asked by

manufacturers in the framework of the products quality insurance and preventive
maintenance. It offers ,as compared to the radiography many advantages among
others: the security, the flexibility and the cost. However, this technique requires
some precautions during a testing, namely :

 the use of a couplant.

 the necessity to have a good state of surface,
 The method involve mechanical contact between the power source and the
pieces tested.

To improve the flexibility and the rapidity of this method, it would be useful to
generate and receive acoustical waves with a contactless electromagnetic probe.
The contactless electromagnetic-acoustic transducers (EMATs) offer several
advantages, which have an essential importance for the non-destructive testing
with ultrasound
This work consists of EMATs conception and construction for the contactless
excitation and detection of different wavetypes. We have conceived and realised
receivers and transmitters EMATs.
This paper is a report of experiments results with these different types of EMATs.
We examine the different parameters that influence them in order to optimise
them and to know the degree of the applicability of this technique in the non-
destructive testing of materials in Algeria.
keywords: EMATs, Electrodynamics effect,Magnetostriction, phased array
transducer.

Introduction

Besides piezoelectric, an other physical effects can be used for generating and
receiving ultrasonic waves. It is the electromagnetic acoustic effect [7]. Although
it produces weaker signals than obtainable by the piezoelectric effect, it
nevertheless offer a number of advantages. In this effect the energy is transmitted
by electromagnetic fields which avoid mechanical contact with the test piece. The
conversion into or from acoustic energy takes place in the surface of the work
piece concerned. Compared with the piezoelectric oscillator, which is coupled to
the work piece, the surface of the work piece forms in the case of this direct
method a part of the acoustic transducer. This method thus require no coupling
medium, so avoiding a number of difficulties. Indeed, wet coupling can introduce
various disturbances [1], [2]. Due to the interference of the waves reflected at the
two interfaces, the permeability of a liquid layer depends to a great extent on the
thickness. Consequently, it is necessary to reduce the thickness of the liquid layer
to a minimum and to keep it constant. When testing hot work pieces, the difficulty
of finding a suitable couplant increases with the temperature. Finally, the
electromagnetic acoustic transducer not contains mechanically oscillating
 components[13]. These components have a natural frequency influencing the
overall frequency response.

Principles of electromagnetic acoustic excitation -Basic theory

The electromagnetic acoustic excitation

of ultrasound is based upon two physical
mechanisms: the Lorentz forces and the
magnetostriction in ferromagnetic
materials.
The theory we expose here describes the
acoustic electromagnetic phenomenon
only using Lorentz forces. A coil, placed
near the surface, transmits an r.f Fig 1: Principle of electromagnetic acoustic
electromagnetic signal (Figure1). The generation
response of the metal takes place in the
classic skin depth δ , where eddy current j(z, t) and their associated electrical field
E(z, t) are induced.
When we apply a static magnetic field, we disturb the balance giving birth to a
force that acts on electrons. It is the Lorentz force given by the following relation
:
(1)

where n0 is the electrons density. For B0 oriented according Ox the Lorentz force
is longitudinal, resulting in a variation of the electron charge density along Oz. An
internal electrical field E(z) oriented following Oz has to exist to maintain charge
neutrality. Its ions come in an compressional oscillations of amplitude ξ z. B0 is to
Oz, the currents j(z, t) are to Oy direction and the Lorentz force act in the Ox
direction. The Lorentz Forces act to produce a shearing force along Ox arise shear
oscillations of amplitude ξ x . Thus for these two polarisations , the acoustic wave
equation is :

(2)

d is the density of the metal and s the speed of ultrasonic wave

Dobbs [6] demonstrates that when δ <<λ and at distances z >> δ we have the

following wave solution: ,where β = q2δ 2/2 and q is the

ultrasonic wave number

The conversion coefficient η of the electromagnetic acoustic transducer is the

ratio of the generated acoustic power P to the electromagnetic power Q entering
the surface. It is done by the following relation[11], [12].
 (4)

At 10MHz, for compressional waves in aluminium, B0= 1T we have η = 5.7x10-5 .

In non- ferromagnetic materials the Lorentz force is the one contribution to the
generation of sound. In a ferromagnetic material, additional forces are produced
by magnetostrictive stresses. Ultrasonic wave is no more a linear function of the
applied magnetic field. According to these principles an EMAT then consists of a
means for producing a static bias field, i.e., a permanent magnet or electromagnet,
plus a coil of wires carrying a dynamic drive current.

Realisation

EMATs prototypes realised, are all set in a metallic compact cylindrical case.
Electromagnet is installed there. The electromagnetic insulation is completed by
the connection USK7-coil by a BNC-LEMO cable . The electromagnet is shod
with a sole made of Plexiglas which fixes the electromagnet yoke and the exciting
coil (figure 2,3).

Fig 2: EMAT prototype Fig 3: EMAT and Piezoelectric

Transducer

Exciting and receiving coils are realised on printed circuits. The electromagnet
used have U-form for longitudinal waves EMATs , and E-form For shear waves.

Experiments

Influence of the excitation coil geometry

We want to determine the coil geometry influences on the efficiency for the
emission and its sensitivity to the detection. For this purpose, several set of coil of
different designs are tested: single flat spirals, double spirals and meander coil.
Four sets of flat spirals was fabricated as shown in figure 4
 Fig 5: meander, double and
Fig 4: spiral coil as printed circuit
single coil for 21mm gap

We have therefore conceived a set of different characteristic coil (number of turn,

distance between turns). Coils were printed on the same rectangles surface 35 X
11 mm2 (Fig.4). We were limited by 9 turns. Small width of the gap plays an
important role in generation phenomenon. Indeed, the developed static field is as
important as the gap is smaller. Thereby, both influence of these two parameters
namely: the turn number and the gap width, present a contradictory character.
Figure 5 shows an other set of coils: double spiral, single and meander coil. These
coils are destined for operate in a 21mm-gap while precedents operated in a 14
mm-gap. Table 1 gives the best results obtained by each category of coil.

Coil type 6 turn-single 2 x 3 turn- 8 period- 9 turn-single 10 turn-single

Spiral double spiral meander Spiral Spiral
transmission 85.5 90 99 90 86
Gain (dB)
reception 105 108 110 100 102
Rejection transmission 0 0 22 5 0
(%) reception 35 40 40 40 40
Width of gap (mm) 14 21 21 14 21
Table 1: coil geometry influence on the echo high